Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso says he believes he still has an outside chance of retaining his title.

Alonso trails Lewis Hamilton by 12 points with just two Grands Prix to go.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix, Alonso told BBC Sport: "If I finish two points in front of Lewis I will have a little chance in Brazil.

"I haven't said goodbye to my chances mathematically, but for sure I need a very strange combination of results in the last two races."

Alonso crashed out in Japan last weekend and team-mate Hamilton went on to win.

And with Hamilton now on the verge of claiming the title after a season-long battle with the Spaniard, Alonso admitted the pressure was off to a large extent.

"It's more relaxed for sure. It's not that I'm not interested in the race - we will try to do the best practice we can - but it (the destination of the title) is not up to me at the moment," he said.

I'm leading the world championship - that doesn't look too ugly to me

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton and Alonso's head-to-head battle for the drivers' championship has led to increasing conflict between the two and they have both admitted they would rather the other raced for a different team.

Alonso has previously accused McLaren of favouring Hamilton, who first linked up with the team at the age of 12.

Asked whether he thought Hamilton would be favoured this weekend to help him win the title, Alonso refused to be drawn.

"Difficult question," he mused. "I will not answer."

Despite the friction between the pair Hamilton said there was no personal animosity.

"I wish him the best wherever he is. If he is with us next year, we will work the best way we can," Hamilton told BBC Sport.

"I get on with Fernando well. We had a good conversation today. There's nothing wrong with us. As for the future, wherever he is I wish him well."